Human and Physical Environmental Factors Affecting Students’ Utilization of Library and Information Services in Colleges of Education Libraries in Nigeria

Abstract

A cross-sectional survey on human and physical environmental factors affecting students’ utilization of library and information services in colleges of education libraries in Nigeria was conducted and reported in this paper. 648 students and 16 colleges of Education librarians were sampled, using a multistage simple random and purposive sampling technique. Structured questionnaires for students and college librarians’ responses were used for data collection and interpretation for identification of problems. Results showed that students face human and physical environmental factors. Human factors were categorized as: students’ lack of attendance at library user education, improper organization of library materials, shelf guidance and arrangement, insufficient and unfriendly staff attitude, users’ attitude, insecurity of students’ properties, unfavoruable rules and regulations for readers, crowded students timetable and lack of students’ encouragement by lecturers. While physical factors were categorized as: inadequate books loaned out, inadequate facilities and equipment, students’ preference of hostel use than library, poor maintenance of facilities and untidy environment. The study concluded with recommendations that students and colleges’ librarians were different on most of the environmental factors that affect students’ utilization of library and information services in colleges of education libraries in Nigeria.